Last verified: November 8, 2026. By Joe Bjorklund · How we check · Report an error
Key Takeaways
- New York had the highest median one-bedroom rent of any U.S. city Zumper tracks in October 2026, at $4,610, ahead of San Francisco at $4,430; Boston was $2,980, Los Angeles $2,300 and Chicago $2,180 (Zumper).
- San Francisco rents are rising much faster: its one-bedroom median was up 26.2% from a year earlier, versus 4.8% in New York (Zumper).
- New York City residents pay a city income tax of 3.078% to 3.876% on top of New York State’s 3.9% to 10.9% (NYC Department of Finance; NYS DTF).
- Illinois taxes income at a flat 4.95% and Massachusetts at 5%, with a 4% surtax on income above $1,107,750 in 2026; California’s rates run from 1% to 12.3%, plus 1% on taxable income over $1 million (Illinois DOR; Massachusetts DOR; California FTB).
- Chicago’s combined sales tax rose to 10.5% on Aug. 1, 2026, above New York City’s 8.875% and San Francisco’s 8.625% (Illinois Policy Institute; NYS DTF; CDTFA).
Is NYC more expensive than San Francisco?
For renters, slightly. Zumper’s October 2026 National Rent Report put New York’s median one-bedroom asking rent at $4,610, about 4% above San Francisco’s $4,430. San Francisco’s two-bedroom median was higher, $6,320 versus $5,470 in New York, and San Francisco rents grew far faster over the year: up 26.2% for one-bedrooms and 27.9% for two-bedrooms, compared with 4.8% and 5.2% in New York (Zumper).
Zumper’s figures are medians of listings on its platform for each city, so they reflect new leases rather than what existing tenants pay. For NYC rent measured other ways, see NYC one-bedroom rent.
| City | 1-bedroom | 1-bed change vs. year ago | 2-bedroom | 2-bed change | NYC 1-bed vs. this city |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $4,610 | +4.8% | $5,470 | +5.2% | — |
| San Francisco | $4,430 | +26.2% | $6,320 | +27.9% | NYC +4% |
| Boston | $2,980 | +2.8% | $3,500 | +1.4% | NYC +55% |
| Los Angeles | $2,300 | +2.2% | $2,930 | −5.5% | NYC +100% |
| Chicago | $2,180 | +12.4% | $2,520 | +5.0% | NYC +111% |
How does NYC rent compare with Boston, LA and Chicago?
New York’s $4,610 one-bedroom median was 55% higher than Boston’s $2,980, about twice Los Angeles’s $2,300 and 111% higher than Chicago’s $2,180 in October 2026 (Zumper; NewYorkCostOfLiving.com arithmetic). Chicago one-bedroom rents rose 12.4% over the year, the second-fastest increase among these five cities after San Francisco (Zumper).
Within New York City, rents vary widely by borough: Realtor.com’s third-quarter 2026 median asking rent ran from $3,233 in the Bronx to $5,375 in Manhattan. See the NYC borough cost comparison.
Are taxes higher in NYC than in other big cities?
New York City is the only one of these five cities that levies its own resident income tax, at 3.078% to 3.876% of New York taxable income, on top of state rates of 3.9% to 10.9% (NYC Department of Finance; NYS DTF). California’s state rates run from 1% to 12.3%, with an additional 1% on taxable income above $1 million (California Franchise Tax Board). Massachusetts charges 5%, plus a 4% surtax on income above $1,107,750 for tax year 2026 (Massachusetts DOR), and Illinois charges a flat 4.95% (Illinois DOR).
Sales tax runs the other way. Chicago’s combined rate reached 10.5% on Aug. 1, 2026, after a regional transit increase (Illinois Policy Institute), compared with 8.875% in New York City (NYS DTF), 8.625% in San Francisco (CDTFA, rates operative Oct. 1, 2026) and 6.25% in Massachusetts (Massachusetts DOR). Los Angeles rates vary by location; check the CDTFA rate lookup. See NYC income tax and NYC sales tax.
| City | State income tax rates | City income tax | Combined sales tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | 3.9%–10.9% (NYS) | 3.078%–3.876% (NYC resident tax) | 8.875% |
| San Francisco | 1%–12.3%, plus 1% on taxable income over $1 million (CA) | None | 8.625% |
| Los Angeles | 1%–12.3%, plus 1% on taxable income over $1 million (CA) | None | See CDTFA rate lookup |
| Boston | 5%, plus a 4% surtax on income over $1,107,750 in 2026 (MA) | None | 6.25% (MA) |
| Chicago | 4.95% flat (IL) | None | 10.5% since Aug. 1, 2026 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is New York more expensive than San Francisco?
For one-bedroom rent, yes, narrowly. Zumper’s October 2026 report put New York’s median one-bedroom at $4,610 and San Francisco’s at $4,430. San Francisco two-bedrooms cost more, $6,320 versus $5,470, and San Francisco rents rose about 26% over the year compared with about 5% in New York, according to Zumper.
How much more expensive is NYC than Chicago?
For rent, about twice as much. New York’s median one-bedroom asking rent was $4,610 in October 2026 versus $2,180 in Chicago, according to Zumper. Chicago has a higher combined sales tax, 10.5% since Aug. 1, 2026, but Illinois income tax is a flat 4.95% and Chicago has no city income tax like New York City’s.
Is NYC more expensive than Boston?
For rent, yes. Zumper’s October 2026 report put New York’s median one-bedroom at $4,610, about 55% above Boston’s $2,980, and its two-bedroom at $5,470 versus $3,500. Massachusetts taxes income at 5%, plus a 4% surtax above $1,107,750 in 2026, while New York City residents pay state and city income taxes.
Which city has the highest rent in the US?
New York had the highest median one-bedroom rent of any city in Zumper’s October 2026 National Rent Report, at $4,610, followed by San Francisco at $4,430. For two-bedrooms, San Francisco ranked higher at $6,320 versus New York’s $5,470. Zumper’s figures are medians of current listings on its platform.
Does NYC have a city income tax?
Yes. New York City residents pay a resident income tax of 3.078% to 3.876% of New York taxable income, according to the NYC Department of Finance, in addition to New York State income tax of 3.9% to 10.9%. None of San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston or Chicago charges residents a city income tax of that kind.
Related: NYC cost by borough · NYC one-bedroom rent · NYC income tax · NYC sales tax · How much it costs to live in NYC · Hidden costs of living in NYC
Sources
- Zumper, National Rent Report, October 2026 (one- and two-bedroom medians by city) (Oct 27, 2026)
- Realtor.com, 2026 Q3 NYC Rental Report (Oct 27, 2026)
- NYC Department of Finance, NYC personal income tax (2026)
- NYS Department of Taxation and Finance, Form IT-2105-I: 2026 estimated tax instructions (state and NYC rate schedules) (2026)
- NYS Department of Taxation and Finance, Sales tax rates, additional sales taxes and fees (TB-ST-825) (Apr 6, 2026)
- California Franchise Tax Board, Bill analysis: existing law imposes nine rates from 1% to 12.3% plus a 1% tax on taxable income over $1 million (2025)
- California Franchise Tax Board, 2025 Form 540 instructions (Behavioral Health Services Tax, 1% over $1,000,000) (2025)
- California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, Tax rates by county and city (publication 95), operative Oct. 1, 2026 (Oct 1, 2026)
- Massachusetts Department of Revenue, Massachusetts tax rates (5% income tax; 4% surtax above $1,107,750 for tax year 2026) (accessed Nov 8, 2026)
- Illinois Department of Revenue, Income tax rates (individual income tax 4.95% of net income) (accessed Nov 8, 2026)
- Illinois Policy Institute, RTA sales tax hike pushes Chicago’s combined rate to 10.5% on Aug. 1, 2026 (July 29, 2026)